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I would recommend this as a WAP -- just remember, it is not a router. It has been awhile since I set up the WAP, but I can't remember any problems. I purchased this WAP in Dec 2008 and have only powered it down to move it from one place to another within our office. I am using it on a home network with a wired desktop computer (XP), a wireless laptop (XP Media Center), a wireless desktop (Vista), and a wireless printer.
Tried 3 different "official procedure" instructions. When it came back on, the leds were stuck yellow and red. Checked online for a way to reset to factory settings. Bought two of these to connect to networks in the house together. Nothing worked.Going to sell the other one on eBay. The CD setup instructions said to just hit the buttons (for 1 second) on the AP, and then on the router. Hooked the first one up to the Linksys wireless router. The lights flashed white for 20 minutes before I gave up and reset the AP.
I used this access point as a Client Bridge using ddwrt and it was a smooth easy install.
Finally, disconnect the cable between PC/laptop and WAP54G. At this point, you are configuring the WAP54G with the wireless MAC address, channel number, and SSID saved from the WRT54G router in step 1.10. BEFORE hooking up the new WAP54G: Start with login to the WRT54G router (http://192.168.1.1/ is typical IP address) to get the wireless MAC address (use the one under Status/Wireless, NOT the under Status/Router). Plug in cable between PC/laptop ethernet connection (RJ45 jack, the usual one for network connecting) and the port on the back of the WAP54G.7. In other words, no visible difference (at 6MB download, our browsing life is pretty sweet).Quick summary of steps to install; I followed what "my sources" said to do, instructions at these two links:[.].[.].1. After you have the MAC address, wireless channel number, and SSID:2. After save/continue, use the new password to get back to the admin interface in browser.13. I bought this to provide access from my 3rd floor to a WRT54G router that moved from our 2nd floor to 1st floor when we switched from DSL to Comcast cable.
I disconnected my laptop from the wireless network.3. Plug in power to the WAP54G.wait until lights come on, Power, Act, Link.8. Click "Password" and change the default password (I changed to same as used for WRT54G router). Click "AP Mode", select the "Wireless Repeater" radio button, and enter the WRT54G's wireless MAC address (from step 1).12. I reset the router (plug it in to power, hold down the reset button in back with pencil point, and watch until Act light on front flickers and then goes out), then unplug the power.4. Installation took a little longer than I expected, but total was less than an hour to get it all set up.Once installed, there have been no problems at all. Like all Linksys products I've used, it just keeps working perfectly. If you use only MAC filtering for security (which I do, enough for our little home network), you are finished as MAC filtering is automatically "inherited" from the WRT54G.
On the main page of the Web interface, change the channel number to the same one the WRT54G uses (5 in our case). Navigate laptop browser to http:--192.168.1.245 and you'll get a linksys login screen.leave the User Name blank, and enter "admin" as password.9. On the PC/laptop, open network connections for LAN and config TCP/IP to a specific IP address: 192.168.1.240 / 255.255.255.0. If you use WAP/WEP security, follow the rest of the instructions from the links above.15.
You may want to use the same name as router--supposed to be seamless--but I preferred unambiguous knowledge of which one used).14. And reset your network connection (step 5) for LAN, config TCP/IP, back to DHCP or whatever you were using. Finally, click "Basic Setup" and change the SSID (I used a different name from WRT54G router, adding a "2" to end of name, so that we could decide manually which to connect to from various points in our home. The WAP54G provides a strong, excellent signal, very good on 3rd floor, and also good on 1st floor in our kitchen.One point to note: the download speed has been a little lower, like 6MB on the WAP54G repeater, instead of 12MB on the WRT54G router connection; upload speed seems the same on both.
As with all chgs, click save and continue.11. No DNS or gateway settings need to be set at this time.6. Also get the wireless channel number and SSID (name of your wireless router). Now from your favorite web browser on your PC/Laptop navigate to http:--192.168.1.245.5.
The instructions simply said to run the CD and follow directions, and the CD configures the access point in a way that requires a wired connection.The CD is not really needed: just connect the access point to your router with an ethernet cable and point your browser to 192.168.1.245. This access point works well as a repeater for a Linksys wireless router. My only complaint is that it didn't come with any useful instructions, so I had to call them to get help setting it up.
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